Apex | Articles & Videos

Since 2020, the corrugated manufacturing industry has endured numerous crisis-level events that have resulted in shortages, delays and price increases for raw materials, energy and transportation. The pandemic, along with droughts and storms in the Western hemisphere, have abruptly impacted corn starch supply in the Americas; The war in Ukraine is impacting European industrial starch production; And rising tensions in China and Korea have caused further interruptions in the corrugated supply

Have you ever wondered what a hexagonal 60° anilox cell engraving actually looks like? Or considered what vital role it plays in achieving the best results in print on corrugated board? By organizing a one-day training, tailored to the corrugated industry, Apex is providing print professionals with answers to these – and many more – questions by sharing relevant insights, practical knowledge and important background information on the basics of anilox technology.

At the mercy of changing consumer preferences, brand owner demands, industry trends and a whole litany of other factors, the corrugated packaging market has morphed and evolved quite a bit over the past decade. And as outlined in a new Smithers Pira report, The Future of Global Corrugated Packaging to 2021, things show no sign of standing still.

Board quality is the foundation for corrugated excellence and therefore the board used directly affects print results. New materials and improved technologies make it possible to manufacture corrugated board to a much higher standard and realize cost savings on glue consumption and required drying capacity.

Consumers in the corrugated industry are demanding a decrease in starch consumption.  And not just for the cost savings either.  Instead, it is the thinner, weaker paper – with weights as low as 80 grams - that are used for gluing board. This type of paper requires the application of less starch, as little starch as possible in fact.

It isn’t hard to understand that glue rolls for corrugated machines with excessive TIR (total indicated runout), or glue rolls that aren’t parallel, will cause your corrugator to consume more adhesive.  It’s trickier to calculate how much, and when it makes economic sense to correct the problem.  As long as board quality, productivity, and waste are acceptable, it is tempting to post- pone maintenance.  Reducing the question to a comparison of costs helps managers make informed decisions.